New Zealand

5th November - 4th December 2005

Pureora Forest Park

The large podocarp forest at Pureora contains a number of scarce native birds, such as Kokapo, Kaka, Yellow-crowned Parakeet and New Zealand Falcon. I spent a 2 days here (1 day on my way south and one on my return north), but didn't have much luck on either occasion. Rifleman and Tomtit were fairly common, but only showed well for me when there was not enough light to get a fast enough shutter speed to freeze their constant fidgeting.

Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum)

Much of the forest is quite degraded due to the extensive logging operations, but there are a few locations where giant podocarp trees such as the Rimu (above) still tower above the canopy.

Urewera National Park

New Zealand map

Ruatiti